The Use of Logic in Contemporary Islamic Discourses

Abstract

In a fluid and ever changing global environment, the need to rationally engage and logically address the controversies that challenge the sanctity of Islam is an ubiquitous feature of contemporary times. As the challenges confronting Islamic thinkers are diverse and manifold, there is an urgent need for an advocacy approach that is premised on the rational application of Logic in Islamic Discourse. Nevertheless, the current approach of totally relying on Logic as a tool to elucidate the problems and controversies besetting the Ummah is replete with numerous shortcomings as evidenced by the advent of deviationist ideologies inimical to Islam such as pluralism, liberalism, and feminism. This paper purports to examine the nature of Logic within Islamic Discourse and how it is applied to not only portray Islam but to also delineate and clarify its adequacy in addressing contemporary issues and controversies bedeviling the Ummah. In seeking answers to these questions, the paper first sought to explicate upon the nature of Logic within the realm of knowledge. Next, it analyzed the use of logic in contemporary Islamic discourse. A qualitative approach which basically encompasses library research was utilized to obtain secondary data regarding the use of logic in contemporary Islamic discourse. Subsequently, the collated data was subjected to textual analysis. The findings reveal that there are at least two approaches that underpin the use of logic in Islamic discourse, namely, the reason (aql) based and the revelation (wahyu) based approaches with both approaches having their respective outcomes. Based on the analyzed data, the study recommends that the application of logic in contemporary Islamic Discourse should be premised upon on a hybrid approach named Contemporary Islamic Logic Approach (CILA) that draws its synergy from the revelation based approach but manifests itself via aql based arguments whilst simultaneously complying with four basic rules i.e., possessing a clear Islamic epistemology and tasawur, utilizing Islamic reasoning approaches, strengthening the Islamic framework and finally, emphasizing the means aspect of Western Logic rather than its end.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n5p171